Rafa should save his knees and skip rest of the year?

Since he has VERY few points post USO to defend, and the way this injury just doesnt seem to go, how about Nadal skipping the last 4 months or so, give himself about a 2.5 months break and then have a go. I mean this injury (he is doubtful for USO also) seems more dangerous than all the previous ones. His knees are only going to get worse during the HC season coming up. Sure, he should play USO but give his knees a rest after that, no? He isnt likely to be winning a lot after USO anyway... Or maybe play the WTF since this is the only big thing he has to yet to win...

With every passing day, it's looking more and more likely he'll skip the US Open. His stubborn uncle has finally realized that poor Rafa's knees simply cannot keep up with the strain. The wise thing would definitely be to skip USO, and see where things lead off from there.

His career is almost over anyway, may as well just go out there and see if he can grind out a couple more slam victories somehow. He will just get way worse with age. Or just play the clay Swing every year, and skip the rest of the season.

With every passing day, it's looking more and more likely he'll skip the US Open. His stubborn uncle has finally realized that poor Rafa's knees simply cannot keep up with the strain. The wise thing would definitely be to skip USO, and see where things lead off from there.

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But skipping USO would be huge, no? I mean it seems kind of unnecessary IMHO, because he has like 4 months to rest after that if he wants to. He is not defending anything right now and even if his knees do get screwed up again after USO, then he has plenty of time to treat them... I mean he is only playing 7 matches at the most. (maybe 12 if he plays WS)

I wonder if this is the issue Nadal mentioned in his book, the result of using custom shoes to alleviate the pain in his foot? IIRC the prediction was that eventually he would have to deal with knee and back issues.

I wonder if this is the issue Nadal mentioned in his book, the result of using custom shoes to alleviate the pain in his foot? IIRC the prediction was that eventually he would have to deal with knee and back issues.

I agree with the OP, it would be best for Nadal to skip this one and get ready for 2013. This injury seems much more serious than usual. No point in running the risk of damaging his knees further for the sake of a tournament that he has little chance of winning (think how long the 2009 hiatus was). Besides, he has little chance of surpassing Federer and Djokovic at this point of the year now that we're approaching the indoor season soon.

why are you all saying this injury is so serious? it doesnt seem worse than his 2009 injury. he did play wimbledon, even if he was injured he lost a close match to a very hot player. he withdrew from the olympics but if it was a gs tournament i think he would have played.

why are you all saying this injury is so serious? it doesnt seem worse than his 2009 injury. he did play wimbledon, even if he was injured he lost a close match to a very hot player. he withdrew from the olympics but if it was a gs tournament i think he would have played.

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You forgot that he has pulled out of Toronto and Cincinnati, which makes three straight tourneys he's pulled out of. Also, I think he found out about his injury right after his loss at wimby. Although it isn't as bad as 2009, he runs the risk of worsening his injury if it isn't completely healed yet (which I don't think it is if he thinks it's serious enough to skip both of the major hard court masters leading up to the US open).

why are you all saying this injury is so serious? it doesnt seem worse than his 2009 injury. he did play wimbledon, even if he was injured he lost a close match to a very hot player. he withdrew from the olympics but if it was a gs tournament i think he would have played.

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Because Nadal himself has said that this injury is different,and more serious than just tendonitis. I think I will choose to believe him over some weekend warriors on a tennis forum.

But skipping USO would be huge, no? I mean it seems kind of unnecessary IMHO, because he has like 4 months to rest after that if he wants to. He is not defending anything right now and even if his knees do get screwed up again after USO, then he has plenty of time to treat them... I mean he is only playing 7 matches at the most. (maybe 12 if he plays WS)

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Rafa said himself that this injury was 'different', and that he's unsure as to whether or not to play in the US Open. This is a big giveaway. Someone like Rafael Nadal wouldn't skip one of the most important tournaments of the year (and 3 consecutive tournaments post USO) over a normal injury. So we can be sure this is no normal injury.

Because Nadal himself has said that this injury is different,and more serious than just tendonitis. I think I will choose to believe him over some weekend warriors on a tennis forum.

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Why, do you know him personally or something? How do you know you can believe what he is telling the press? You don't know that what he is saying is true any more than believing what strangers on a tennis forum say. Both are strangers and unless you know a person you don't really know the full story period.

Why, do you know him personally or something? How do you know you can believe what he is telling the press? You don't know that what he is saying is true any more than believing what strangers on a tennis forum say. Both are strangers and unless you know a person you don't really know the full story period.

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Nope,but neither do the people who are insisting he's not really injured. I will still choose to believe him over certain people on this website. Especially because those same people can't stand Nadal,and want to think the worst of him no matter what he does.

And next time Fed says his backs hurts,I expect Fed fans to call him a liar because they don't know him personally,therefore cannot take his word for it. I mean,if some anonymous haters on an internet forum say he's faking,people should give their word the same credence as they do Fed himself.

Chronic knee tendonitis can become degenerative. When you treat tendonitis with NSAIDS, ultrasounds, shockwave therapy, and even platelets injections (which I believe is what Rafa is doing), you are essentially treating the pain and not the condition itself. Over time, these treatments lose their effectiveness, and with repeated cycles of inflammation, you get tissue damage/degradation of the tendon and even the surrounding cartilage. Your knee tendonitis turns into knee tendinosis, an even more painful condition which can take months or even years to completely heal. And if you ignore it, the damage can become permanent and your tendon can become so brittle it can tear.

So, IF this is what Rafa is experiencing now, then he should stop playing and seek the best doctors/treatments available. It's not like top level athletes do not have the resources. Maybe he needs surgery, maybe not. Maybe he's out 6+ months, who knows... But he just can't continue like this, and not be able to walk at 35...

Fans tend to blast others and say stuff like "he's had this before! it's no big deal! you hate Nadal so you want him to retire!". Perhaps, they should stop being obsessed with Nadal's accomplishments, and think about his future...

Chronic knee tendonitis can become degenerative. When you treat tendonitis with NSAIDS, ultrasounds, shockwave therapy, and even platelets injections (which I believe is what Rafa is doing), you are essentially treating the pain and not the condition itself. Over time, these treatments lose their effectiveness, and with repeated cycles of inflammation, you get tissue damage/degradation of the tendon and even the surrounding cartilage. Your knee tendonitis turns into knee tendinosis, an even more painful condition which can take months or even years to completely heal. And if you ignore it, the damage can become permanent and your tendon can become so brittle it can tear.

So, IF this is what Rafa is experiencing now, then he should stop playing and seek the best doctors/treatments available. It's not like top level athletes do not have the resources. Maybe he needs surgery, maybe not. Maybe he's out 6+ months, who knows... But he just can't continue like this, and not be able to walk at 35...

Fans tend to blast others and say stuff like "he's had this before! it's no big deal! you hate Nadal so you want him to retire!". Perhaps, they should stop being obsessed with Nadal's accomplishments, and think about his future...

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Well said Bob.

Google 'Owen Hargreaves' if you want to know how debilitating tendonitis can be to a professional sportsman.

there's nothing wrong with him I'm pretty sure ..
he's still mentally devastated and suffering from his early loss in Wimby ..
he looked very well on court in the clay and the grass seasons ..
one doesn't just get injured from no playing!

Nope,but neither do the people who are insisting he's not really injured. I will still choose to believe him over certain people on this website. Especially because those same people can't stand Nadal,and want to think the worst of him no matter what he does.

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Come on, Clarky.

People who insist that Nadal is not injured are thinking the worst of him !!!

And just as I was thinking you may be talking of two different sets of people, I see you saying "same people".

You are tripping up in your heroic endeavour to put down those terrible, virulent Fred fans, lol

Take it easy, Clarky, there are better things in life than to take on each and every person who doesn't like Nadal. There will always be a million or so. In any case, we will all always have our opinions regardless of the facts. Everyone can't be exactly like you -- believing whatever Nadal's doctors say.

there's nothing wrong with him I'm pretty sure ..
he's still mentally devastated and suffering from his early loss in Wimby ..
he looked very well on court in the clay and the grass seasons ..
one doesn't just get injured from no playing!

Chronic knee tendonitis can become degenerative. When you treat tendonitis with NSAIDS, ultrasounds, shockwave therapy, and even platelets injections (which I believe is what Rafa is doing), you are essentially treating the pain and not the condition itself. Over time, these treatments lose their effectiveness, and with repeated cycles of inflammation, you get tissue damage/degradation of the tendon and even the surrounding cartilage. Your knee tendonitis turns into knee tendinosis, an even more painful condition which can take months or even years to completely heal. And if you ignore it, the damage can become permanent and your tendon can become so brittle it can tear.

So, IF this is what Rafa is experiencing now, then he should stop playing and seek the best doctors/treatments available. It's not like top level athletes do not have the resources. Maybe he needs surgery, maybe not. Maybe he's out 6+ months, who knows... But he just can't continue like this, and not be able to walk at 35...

Fans tend to blast others and say stuff like "he's had this before! it's no big deal! you hate Nadal so you want him to retire!". Perhaps, they should stop being obsessed with Nadal's accomplishments, and think about his future...

there's nothing wrong with him I'm pretty sure ..
he's still mentally devastated and suffering from his early loss in Wimby ..
he looked very well on court in the clay and the grass seasons ..one doesn't just get injured from no playing!

he needs to grow up .. end of the story

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By the same logic, someone who has been playing at the highest level and winning slams for 8 years doesn't get mentally devastated by one loss. Rafa came back from 7 losses to Joker and beat him 3 times this year, only to be devastated by ONE loss to a #100 player ??

Rafa did not get injured. He's been carrying a chronic knee condition for years and it seems it's got worse. It could have got worse during training after WO.